Presidents of Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan meet to consolidate economic partnership for stable Central Asia

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev consolidated the rapidly expanding Kazakh-Uzbek partnership during the second meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council in Tashkent on November 15 eyeing to stable and prosperous Central Asia.

The two Presidents identified new priorities for deepening cooperation across trade, industry, transport, water and energy management, digital development, and cultural exchange, underscoring the elevated status of bilateral ties as a strategic partnership and alliance.

Both Presidents highlighted the importance of accelerating multifaceted cooperation in the context of global uncertainty. Tokayev noted that during bilateral talks, they identified concrete areas for expanding political, economic, and sectoral collaboration.Trade remained a key priority. The Presidents reaffirmed their determination to increase bilateral trade turnover to $10 billion by 2030. Tokayev stressed the need to diversify traded goods, expand non-resource exports, and ensure active work of mechanisms such as the newly formed Council of Regional Heads, the Business Council, and the joint trading company UzKazTrade.

Both Presidents emphasized the need to optimize tariffs, streamline procedures, and modernize border infrastructure. Tokayev stressed that governments must continue reducing regulatory and logistical barriers to strengthen supply chains.

The Presidents discussed joint efforts to develop the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), the North–South corridor, and transit routes through Afghanistan. Tokayev invited Uzbekistan to participate in projects at the Aktau and Kuryk ports to strengthen cooperation within the Trans-Caspian route and develop new logistics capacities.Water and energy cooperation was a key topic, especially as both countries face growing challenges in managing shared water resources. Tokayev called for a coordinated approach to water management and proposed that both governments prepare systemic measures to harmonize water policies.Tokayev also highlighted expanding cooperation in rare earth metals, proposing that a newly established working group develop concrete recommendations for mutually beneficial cooperation in extraction and processing.

Digital transformation was another key area. Kazakhstan is advancing an ambitious national digitalization agenda, including the launch of the Alem.ai international center, the establishment of a specialized research university, and the deployment of a national supercomputer. Tokayev invited Uzbek companies to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence and digital technologies, noting the successful example of collaboration between Astana Hub and IT Park Uzbekistan.